This is only for California "Lactnetters":

I just attended the first day of the California Breastfeeding Promotion
Committee meeting.  Even though I am not a member, I love to attend for all
the information I get, everything I learn, the great people that I meet
(other Breastfeeding Coordinators and Promoters), and I return as if I'd
just been to a great Breastfeeding conference.  The WIC staff is awsome!

Concerning the AB 1496, which charges "home medical device retail facility"
$850 for licensing to cover the cost of dealing with fraud.  A staffer
called the authorities (those who want to know name and number please
contact me directly - I am not putting it on Lactnet ) who said:
a) the goal of the program is to reduce the fraud mostly prevalent in "end
of life" type of products.  (I guess they continue charging MediCal after
the patient has died, etc...THIS IS MY SPECULATION not this person's
statement.)
b) they have NO interest in being a barrier to breastfeeding at all under
ANY circumstances (this WAS a quote)
c) people who only rent pumps will not be involved in this, though it was
agreed that an ammendment will need to be introduced to clarify this.  

In other words, hospitals and DME providers who rent breast pumps AND other
devices will need to be included, but those who only do breast pumps would
not.

I hope this will reduce the stress of those who tried to wade through the
26 page bill!!!

Jeanette Panchula, BSW, RN, PHN, IBCLC
Vacaville, CA

             ***********************************************
The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html